Campfire Pancakes
Classic British pancakes cooked over an open fire or camp stove. The batter is mixed in a single bowl with no specialist equipment, designed to work with what you can carry in a camping kit. Serve with golden syrup straight from the tin. The medium difficulty here reflects the campfire context rather than the batter itself. Cast iron is the preferred pan -- it distributes heat evenly without warping. Pre-mix the flour, sugar, and milk powder at home and seal in a bag -- at camp, you just add water and an egg.
Ingredients
- 150g (5oz)plain flour
- 1 tbsp (1 tbsp)caster sugar
- 3 tbsp (3 tbsp)full-fat milk powder
- 1 tsp (1 tsp)baking powder
- 1 pinch (1 pinch)fine salt
- 200ml (7fl oz)water
- 1 (1)large egg
- 2 tbsp (2 tbsp)vegetable oil, for the pan
Method
- 1
At camp, combine the flour, sugar, milk powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl or wide mug (or combine dry ingredients at home and carry in a zip-lock bag).
Pre-mix the dry ingredients at home and store in a labelled zip-lock bag to save time and reduce camp washing-up. - 2
Crack in the egg and add the water. Whisk or stir vigorously until a smooth batter forms.
- 3
Allow the campfire to burn down to glowing embers for steady heat, or set a camp stove to a medium-low flame.
Embers are better than flames: direct flames create hot spots that burn the outside before the middle cooks. - 4
Set a cast iron pan over the fire. Add a teaspoon of oil and heat until it shimmers.
- 5
Pour in enough batter to thinly cover the base of the pan (approximately 60ml). Swirl to spread.
- 6
Cook until the edges are set and the surface has dried out, about 2 minutes. Flip with a wide spatula.
- 7
Cook for a further 60 seconds. Serve directly from the pan with golden syrup.
Pro Tips
- →Embers are better than flames: direct flames create hot spots that burn the outside.
- →If you do not have milk powder, use 200ml of UHT milk in place of the water.
- →A well-seasoned cast iron pan needs very little oil between pancakes.
- →Pre-mix the dry ingredients at home and store in a labelled zip-lock bag.
Topping Ideas
Questions & answers
Can I make these without eggs?⌄
What if my pancakes keep burning?⌄
Can I make the batter the night before?⌄
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